Supporting the small guys
This Christmas when buying beer, support one of Australia’s 100+ microbreweries. With exception of the family owned Coopers Brewery, all of the large Australian breweries are now owned by Japanese beverage giants Asahi Group or Lion/Kirin. See the Beer company comparison page.
In 2016 Belgium’s AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, took over its larger rival South Africa-originated SABMiller, the world’s second-largest brewer. The combined company accounts for 27 percent of beer sales worldwide. Within Australia, AB In Bev owns rights to Corona, Stella Artosis, Beck’s and Budweiser beer.
In 2020, Japanese Asahi took over Carlton United Breweries (CUB), increasing its dominance in the Australian market.
Australia’s second largest brewer, Lion, has been wholly-owned by Japan’s Kirin since 2009.
- Craft Beer directory (micro-breweries and the like)
- Taste tests and tips on beers, ciders and alcopops (from Choice)
- And for wine... a list of those owned by the main players.
Supporters of the current free-market economy argue that competition among producers ensures efficiency and keeps prices as low as possible. This argument sounds reasonable in theory, but in practice it delivers the kind of race-to-the-bottom economy which sidelines workers and delivers much of the productive economy into the hands of a minority. Cooperation on the other hand refers to a situation in which the participants seek out win-win outcomes from working together.
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